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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RurieJIv/ykgl7qq3yopRGuWtVmXjkbB7DI6aBbbalLkK3xmvnHub0hIabEjeYRq
 QXgHsLASO9YutFOA4trsNg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000035527-03-000089.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0000035527-03-000089.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218163539
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000035527-03-000089
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195811

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08076
		FILM NUMBER:		031062761

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANTHEM INC.
		STREET 2:		120 MONUMENT CIRCLE
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000035527
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				310854434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 FOUNTAIN SQ PLZ
		STREET 2:		FIFTH THIRD CENTER
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45263
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135795300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000035527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIFTH THIRD BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FITB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195811</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45263</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>711625</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectO
wnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47458</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>125000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Trusts</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><pos
tTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>125000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Trusts</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1"> Restricted stock granted pursuant to the Fifth Third Bancorp 1998 Long Term Incentive Stock Plan subject to vesting on December 31, 2006 provided Fifth Third Bancorp maintains satisfactory regulatory ratings.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Granted pursuant to the Fifth Third Bancorp 1998 Long Term Incentive Stock Plan. No consideration paid.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts in which the reporting person is a beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts in which the reporting person's spouse is a beneficiary</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureNam
e>Paul L. Reynolds, Attorney-in-Fact for George A. Schaefer, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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